Mailbox signal



J. H. PARKER MAILBOX SIGNAL July 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.19, 1963 4 4 a; l 7 4/ 2 a w Z 0 a m /W z 9 2 r. a

0 A My 6 6 b INVENTOR J4 ME 5 H R4 R/fE/P BY 2,4 )1. fi wm July 13, 19652 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1963 m a "m. mm x 9 I 2 Q 2 4 .7 \fl 0 90 .3 3 6 p,

INVENTOR J4 M55 HEAR/(El? ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,11%,491MAHLEOX SEGNAL James H. Parker, RD. 2, Blossvaie, NY. Filed Aug. 19,1963, Scr. No. 302,7?1 6 Claims. (l. 232-35) This invention relates to anovel signal for application to and use with conventional ruralmailboxes to provide a signal to indicate to a mail carrier when mail isto be picked up from the box, and to also indicate to the box owner whenthe mailbox has been opened by the carrier for removing mail therefromor for depositing mail or other matter therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal which requires noaction on the part of the mail carrier to actuate the signal other thanthe opening and closing of the mailbox door, necessary to remove mail orother matter from the box or the deposit of mail or other matter in thebox.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a signal formailboxes which is so constructed and arranged that one part thereof, inone operative position of the signal, will be readily visible to acarrier approaching the box, while another part of the signal, in adifferent operative position thereof, will be readily visible to the boxowner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mailbox signal most ofthe parts of which are contained within the mailbox and therebyprotected from the elements, and which will be substantially unaffectedby adverse weather conditions such as ice and snow.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a mailbox signalof extremely simple construction which may be very economicallymanufactured, which may be readily attached to a conventional mailbox,and which requires no springs, levers or other mechanisms likely to besubject to wear or other causes of malfunctioning.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal substantially central sectional view of aconventional mailbox, showing the signal in side elevation appliedthereto;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing-the mailbox door in apartially open position with parts of the signal in a different positionfrom the position thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view throughthe upper portion of the mailbox and through the mailbox signal andillustrating another alternate position of certain of the mailboxpar-ts;

FIGURE 4 is'an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view looking fromright to left of FIGURE 1;

FEGURE 5 is a cross sectional view through the mailbox signal, takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken substantially alongthe line 66 of FIGURE 1 and showing the signal in end elevation;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along aplane as indicated by the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, and

Fl-GURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but with certain of the partsturned 90 from their positions of FIGURE 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for the purpose ofillustrating the preferred application and use of the signal unit,designated generally 10, and comprising the invention, a conventionalmailbox is illustrated in the drawings and designated generally 11 andis of the hiidhl "ice type commonly referred to as a rural mailbox. Themailbox 11 is of elongated construction and includes an end wall 12defining the rear end thereof, and a door or closure 13 which definesthe front end of the mailbox and which is hingedly mounted at its lowerend at 14 for outward and downward swinging movement to an openposition. The mailbox 11 has a topportion 15 which extends substantiallyfrom end-to-end thereof. A conventional spring latch 16 is secured :tothe top portion 15 and projects to beyond the forward end of the mailboxto be engaged by a conventional combination handle and keeper 17 whichis carried by the door 13 for latching said door 13 in a closedposition, as illustrated in PEG- URES 1 and 3. For application of thesignal unit it the conventional mailbox 1-1 is only modified to theextent that its top portion 15 is provided with longitudinally spacedopenings 18 and its rear wall 12 is provided with a single opening 19which is located adjacent the top thereof.

The signal unit 10 includes an elongated support 29 which, asillustrated, may constitute a rigid member of inverted channel shape incross section, as seen in FIG- URE 5. The support 26 includes an endwall 21 which is disposed crosswise of the axis of said support andwhich constitutes a rear end wall thereof and which is provided with anopening 22. The support 20 includes a front wall 23 which is likewisedisposed substantially normal to the axis thereof and which has anopening 24 which aligns with the opening 22. The walls 21 and 23 may, asillustrated, be formed from downturned extensions of the top wall 25 ofthe support 2d. The corresponding, substantially parallel depending sidewalls 26 of :the support 23 extend at least to but not beyond the rearwall 21; however, said side walls 26 have complenientary portions 27, asseen in 'FiGURES 7 and 8, which extend beyond the front wall 23, for apurpose which will hereinafter be described.

The support 2% is adapted to be disposed within the mailbox 1-1 andlongitudinally thereof, with the rear wall 21 abutting the inner side ofthe upper portion of the rear mailbox wall 12 and with the opening 22thereof in alignment with the opening 19. When the support '20 is thusdisposed its top portion 25 is in contact with the top portion 15 of themailbox, and said top portion 25 has tapped openings 28 which align withthe openings 18 for receiving screw fastenings 2% which extend throughthe openings 18 and threadedly engage in the openings 28 for securingthe support 20 immovably within the mailbox. When the support 20 is thusdisposed the substantially parallel wall portions 27 thereof extend toadjacent the internally rolled beading 39 which defines the open frontof the mailbox body and against which the door 13 abuts, in the closedposition thereof as seen in FIGURES 1 and 3.

A shaft 31 of the signal unit 19 extends through the openings 22 and 24and is thereby mounted by the support 20 for rotational andreciprocating movement relative to said support and to the mailbox 11. Arear portion of the shaft or rod 31 extends outwardly through theopening 19 and terminates in a threaded rear end portion 32 whichcarries nuts 33 and 34 and a lock washer 35. The threaded shaft portion32 also extends through an opening 36 of a hub portion 3'7 of a signalmember, designated generally 38. The hub portion 3'7 fits turnably onthe shaft portion 32 and is disposed between the nut 33 and lock washer35, so that by tightening the nut 34 the signal member 38 can be securedimmovably to the shaft 31, for a purpose which will hereinafter becomeapparent.

A square head 3? is mounted on and secured immovably to the oppositeforward end of the shaft 31, and a permanent magnet 40 is securedimmovably to an outer face of the head 38'. The magnet l-tl is of awidth apamass proximately corresponding to the spacing between either 39is slightly less than the spacing between the wall portions 27, so thatsaid head can fit between said wall portions 2'7 and against the frontwall 23 in any one of four positions of rotation of the head 39 with theshaft 31, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent, and whenso disposed said head will cooperate with the wall portions 27 toprovide means for nonrotatively connecting the shaft 31 to the support20. It will also be noted, as seenin FIGURES 1 and 3, that whenever thehead 39 is abutting the front wall 23, as seen in FIGURES 1, 3, 7 and'8, that the magnet 40 will be in contact with the door 13, if said dooris in a closed position.

The signal member 38 includes two signal elements .or flags 41 and 42which extend in opposite directions to one another from the hub 37 andwhich thus extend transversely in opposite directions from the shaft 31.The signal element 41 is disposed in a plane normal to the axis of theshaft 31 while the signal element 42 is disposed ina plane atapproximately right angle to the plane of the signal element 41 andsubstantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 31. The signal element41 at least on the outer side thereof which faces away from the rearwall 12, is preferably inscribed with an arrow 43 which may be yellow incolor and which may extend to the hub 37, as seen in. FIGURE 4. Thesignal element 4-2 has a shape which is dissimilar from the shape of thesignal element 41, as seen in FIGURES l and 4, and is preferably of adistinguishably different color than the arrow 43, said signal element42 preferably being colored red, The signal member 38 is clamped to theshaft 31 so that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the magnet 46. This can be accomplished by positioning the head39 between the wall portions 27 with the magnet in'an upright position,as seen in FIGURES 6 and 7, and while holding the signal member 33positioned asseen in FIGURE 4, the nut 34 can be tightened to immovablyclamp said signal member to the shaft 31. The signal element 42 is madeheavier than the signal element 41, preferably by the application of aweight 44 thereto, so that when the head 39 is displaced forwardly'awayfrom the wall 23 and out of engagement with the wall portions 27, asseen in FIGURE 2, the signal member. 38 will cause the shaft 31 torotate to permit the signal member 33 to assume its position of FIGURE2.

Assuming that the owner of the mailbox II has deposited mail or othermatter therein to be picked up by the mail carrier. After this isaccomplished and before closing the door 13, the shaft 31 which will bedisplaced forwardly to its position of FIGURE 2 is rotated 180 in eitherdirection from its position of FIGURE 2 to its position of FIGURE 1, andis then displaced rearwardly to position the head 39 between the wallportions 2,7,as

seen in FIGURE 7, and with the magnet st) in an upright position, asseen in FIGURE 6, to nonrotatively connect the shaft 31 to the support20, after which the door 13 is swung to a fullyv closed position, asseen in FIGURE 1. The mailbox 11 is positioned perpendicular to aroadway along which the carrier would travel toward the mailbox, andwith the door 13 facing said roadway. Consequently, the signal elementor flag 42 in its upwardly extending operative or signaling position, asseen in FIGURE '1, is disposed with its plane substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the mailbox 11 and crosswise of said roadway,not shown, so that it will be readily visible to the mail carrier.

When the mail carrier stops to remove the contents of the mailbox 11 hewill open the door in a conventional r r l- 7 manner. The material ofthe door 13 is such that it is attracted by the magnet dil'. Thus, thedoor 13 constitutes an armature to which the magnet' lil adheresbycontact therewith when the door is in a closed position, as seen inFIGURE 1. As the door 13 is swung outwardly and downwardly toward anopenposition the magnet as retains engagement therewith and is pulledoutwardly thereby for displacing the shaft 31 and parts carried therebyforwardly or from right to left from their positions of FIGURE 1 totheir positions of FIGURE 2; When the nut 33 strikes the wall 12 theshaft 31 is held against fur- V ther forward movement and the door 13then swings out 'ofengagement with the magnet 4i and out. of theinfluence of its magnetic field. \Vnen this occurs, the weight 44causesthe signalmember 33 to revolve and with it the shaft 31 through anarc of 180 to its position of FIG- URE 2. The weight idsuiiicientlyunbalances the signal member 33 and shaft SI so that said parts willcease oscillating before the door I3 can be fully opened, the contentsremoved therefrom and the door returned to its closed position.Accordingly, when the door is returned to its closed position it willstrike the magnet dhto force the shaft 3]. and parts carriedthereby-rearwardly to return the head 39 to a positionfbetween the wallportions 27, fornonrotatively connecting the shaft 31 to the support 2tand with'the signal element or flag 41 in' an upright signaling positionabove the mailbox II, as seen in FIGUREZ. It will be noted that theplane of the signal element or flag d1 is disposed crosswise of thelongitudinal axis of the mailbox II so that it can be readily seen bythe mailbox owner from his dwelling which is normally located behind andat a distance from the mailbox, to indicate that the'mail carrier hasstopped at the mailbox and thatthe mailbox should be checked for anymail or other matter which may have been left therein by the carrier. v7

When the owner of the box opens the door 13 to remove any mail or othermatter which may haverbeen left therein, the shaft 31 and parts carriedthereby will be displaced forwardly, as previouslydescribed, due to themagnet dd adhering to the door 13, but since the weight 44 is below theshaft 31, no rotation of said shaft and the parts carried therebywilloccur. If the mailbox owner has nothing to deposit in the mailbox,before closing the door 13 he will grasp the niagnet iti and rotate theshaft 31 ninety degrees in either direction to its position of FIGURES 3and 8 and will then displace the shaft 31 rearwardly until the head 39engagesnonrotatively between the wall portions 27. The door 13 is thenclosed with the signal member 38 disposed as seen in FIGURES with theflags 41 and'd thereof disposed with their longitudinal axessubstantially horizontal. On the next mail delivery, if the carrier hasnothing to deposit in the box 11 it will notbe necessary for him to stopto open and check the box, since the flag 42 being in a horizontal'nonsignalingposition will indicate. that the box'contains nothing to bepicked up. 7 Since the signal member will be left in its horizontal.position, the box owner can visually determine by viewing the horizontalsignal element that no mail or other matter has been left in the boxbythe carrier. 7

From the foregoing it willbe readily apparent that the carrier is notrequired to perform any operation in connection with the manipulation ofthe signal unit 16 :as the only manual operation thereof is accomplishedby the mailbox owner, and the operation of the signal unit by thecarrier is accomplished automatically simply by the carrier opening andclosing the mailbox door. 7

It will also be noted that a substantial part of the signal unit isdisposed and protected by the mailbox ill from the elements. Ice or snowwill not accumulate sufficiently on the part of the shaft 31 which isexposed between the wall 12 and nut 33 to prevent forward movement ofthe shaft 31 when. the door 13 is opened, so that operation of thesignal unit is not adversely affected by ice or other weatherconditions.

Various modifications and Changes are contemplated and may be resortedto, without departing from the function or scope of the invention ashereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I.claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a mailbox having a rear wall and a closurepivotally mounted for outward and downward swinging movement to an openposition and constituting a front wall and door of the mailbox; a signalunit comprising a support disposed within and secured to the mailbox, ashaft reciprocably and rotatively mounted in said support including arear portion protruding from said rear wall, a signal member secured tosaid rear shaft portion and supported thereby externally of the mailbox,means carried by the shaft and engageable with a part of the support forretaining the shaft against rotation in at least two positions ofrotation of said signal member, and means releasably attaching saidshaft to said closure to effect sliding movement of the shaft with theclosure during initial movement of the closure toward an open positionfor releasing said first mentioned means from said part of the support.

2. In a combination as defined by claim 1, and means effecting anunbalancing of said shaft for causing rotational movement of the signalmember from one position thereof when said first mentioned means isreleased.

3. In a combination as defined by claim 1, said signal member includingsignal elements projecting transversely in opposite directions from theshaft, said first mentioned means, when in engagement with said part ofthe support, retaining the shaft against rotation with either signalelement in an upright position relative to the shaft or with the twosignal elements disposed in substantially horizontal positions, andmeans effecting an unbalancing of said shaft for causing one of thesignal elements to assume an upright position when first mentioned meansis released.

4. In a combination as defined by claim 3, said signal elements being ofdissimilar appearance and being disposed in planes located at an angleto one another.

5. In combination with a mailbox having a rear wall and a closurepivotally mounted for outward and downward swinging movement to an openposition and constituting a front wall and door of the mailbox; a signalunit comprising a support disposed within and secured to the mailbox, ashaft reciprocably and rotatively mounted in said support including arear portion protruding from said rear wall, a signal member secured tosaid rear shaft portion and supported thereby externally of the mailbox,means carried by the shaft and engageable with a part of the support fornonrotatively connecting said shaft to said support for retaining saidsignal member in a plurality of selected positions relative to themailbox, and means releasably attaching said shaft to the closure toeffect a limited sliding movement of the shaft relative to the supportduring swinging movement of the closure toward an open position forreleasing said first mentioned means from said part of the support, andmeans effecting an unbalancing of the shaft to cause rotational movementof the signal member to one position thereof when said first mentionedmeans is released.

6. In a combination as defined by claim 5, said last mentioned meanscomprising a magnet connected to the other forward end of said shaft andsupported thereby in a position such that the closure is magneticallyattracted to the magnet in a closed position of said closure to causethe magnet and shaft to be pulled forwardly by the closure as theclosure is swung toward an open position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,879 11/51Seibel 23235 2,654,534 10/53 Van Meter 23234 3,017,073 l/62 Piergovanni23235 3,080,107 3/63 Lindahl 23235 3,081,024 3/63 Sickler 23234 FRANK B.SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A MAILBOX HAVING A REAR WALL AND A CLOUSREPIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR OUTWARD AND DOWNWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT TO AN OPENPOSITION AND CONSTITUTING A FRONT WALL AND DOOR OF THE MAILBOX; A SIGNALUNIT COMPRISING A SUPPORT DISPOSED WITHIN AND SECURED TO THE MAILBOX, ASHAFT RECIPROCABLY AND ROTATIVELY MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING AREAR PORTION PROTRUDING FROM SAID REAR WALL, A SIGNAL MEMBER SECURED TOSAID REAR SHAFT PORTION AND SUPPORTED THEREBY EXTERNALLY OF THE MAILBOZ,MEANS CARRIED BY THE SHAFT AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A PART OF THE SUPPORT FORRETAINING THE SHAFT AGAINST ROTATION IN AT LEAST TWO POSITIONS OFROTATION OF SAID SIGNAL MEMBER, AND MEANS RELEASABLY ATTACHING SAIDSHAFT TO SAID CLOSURE TO EFFECT SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT WITH THECLOSURE DURING INITIAL MOVEMENT OF THE CLOSURE TOWARD AN OPEN POSITIONFOR RELEASING SAID FIRST MENTIONED MEANS FROM SAID PART OF THE SUPPORT